No / Boat people, whether refugees or migrants, are protected by special provisions in custom and law relating to safety and rescue at sea. At the same time, the governments of coastal states have expressed concern about the arrival of boat people and have been robust in depicting and treating them as a threat. The questions addressed in this article are: how and why have boat people been regarded as a threat, and what challenges does this treatment present for the humanitarian regime at sea? The article connects two dimensions of the issue. First it deconstructs the prevailing images and discourse surrounding boat people that contribute to securitizing them as a threat. Securitization is defined as the process by which issues are identified, labelled and reified as threats to a community, often by politicians for electoral gain. Second, the article argues that this securitization challenges the maritime regime, which is infused with humanitarian values based on solidarity among seafarers. Both short and long-term remedies might be considered. The immediate requirement is to ensure not only that asylum seekers at sea continue to be rescued and protected but also that the maritime regime is strengthened to facilitate their arrival at a place of safety. Over the longer term, de-securitizing the issue of asylum seekers and boat people requires action to address perceptions in destination states.

People who are considered missing have much higher probabilities of being found dead compared to those who are not considered missing in terms of Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. Dementia patients are incredibly likely to be declared missing, and in fact after removing those with dementia the probability of the mission being regarded as missing person case is only about 10%. Additionally, those who go missing are much more likely to be on private land than on protected areas such as forests and parks. These and similar associations can be represented and investigated using a Bayesian network that has been trained on Search and Rescue mission data. By finding associations between factors that affect these missions, SAR teams can find patterns in historical cases and apply them to future cases in order to narrow down their search areas, improve their plans, and hopefully lead to lower search times and fewer deaths and unsolved cases. Causal inference allows causal relationships to be determined, telling SAR teams that they can make current decisions based on these learned relationships and their decisions will cause the change that they expect based on the Bayesian network.

No / This article makes critical observations about the popular examination of dying and its care, identifies the key challenges to modern dying, and argues for a public health approach to end-of life care. Only by adopting a global and non-clinical perspective on the human experience of dying can we address people’s concerns where these arise—in their own homes and workplaces—and to offer alternatives to the more radical choices offered by modern medicine.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most frequent cause of death in children and young adults in the United States. Besides emergency neurosurgical procedures, there are few medical treatment options to improve recovery in people who have experienced a TBI. Management of patients who survive TBI is complicated by both central nervous system and peripheral systemic effects. The pathophysiology of systemic inflammation and coagulopathy following TBI has been attributed to trauma-induced endothelial cell dysfunction; however, there is little knowledge of the mechanisms by which trauma might impact the functions of the vascular endothelium at sites remote from the injury. The endothelium lining these small vessels normally produces nitric oxide (NO), arachidonic acid metabolites, and endothelial-dependent hyperpolarizing factors to relax the surrounding vascular smooth muscle. For this research study we investigated the effects of fluid-percussion-induced TBI on endothelial-dependent vasodilatory functions in a remote tissue bed (the mesenteric circulation) 24 hours after injury. We hypothesized that TBI causes changes in the mesenteric artery endothelium that result in a loss of endothelial-dependent vasodilation. We found that vasodilations induced by the muscarinic-receptor agonist, acetylcholine, are attenuated following TBI. While the endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing component of vasodilation was preserved, the NO component was severely impaired. Therefore, we tested whether the loss of NO component was due to a decrease in bioavailablity of the NO synthase (NOS) cofactor BH4, the NOS substrate L-arginine, or to changes in expression/activity of the enzyme arginase, which competes with NOS for L-arginine. We found that supplementation of L-arginine and inhibition of the enzyme arginase rescues endothelial-dependent vasodilations in TBI arteries. This study demonstrates that there are pathological systemic effects outside the point of injury following TBI leading to a dysfunctional endothelial vasodilatory pathway. These data provide insight into the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction after trauma and may lead to new potential targets for drug therapy.

Semi-autonomous control schemes can address the limitations of both teleoperation and fully autonomous robotic control of rescue robots in disaster environments by allowing cooperation and task sharing between a human operator and a robot with respect to tasks such as navigation, exploration and victim identification. Herein, a unique hierarchical reinforcement learning (HRL) -based semi-autonomous control architecture is presented for rescue robots operating in unknown and cluttered urban search and rescue (USAR) environments. The aim of the controller is to allow a rescue robot to continuously learn from its own experiences in an environment in order to improve its overall performance in exploration of unknown disaster scenes. A new direction-based exploration technique and a rubble pile categorization technique are integrated into the control architecture for exploration of unknown rubble filled environments. Both simulations and physical experiments in USAR-like environments verify the robustness of the proposed control architecture.

Semi-autonomous control schemes can address the limitations of both teleoperation and fully autonomous robotic control of rescue robots in disaster environments by allowing cooperation and task sharing between a human operator and a robot with respect to tasks such as navigation, exploration and victim identification. Herein, a unique hierarchical reinforcement learning (HRL) -based semi-autonomous control architecture is presented for rescue robots operating in unknown and cluttered urban search and rescue (USAR) environments. The aim of the controller is to allow a rescue robot to continuously learn from its own experiences in an environment in order to improve its overall performance in exploration of unknown disaster scenes. A new direction-based exploration technique and a rubble pile categorization technique are integrated into the control architecture for exploration of unknown rubble filled environments. Both simulations and physical experiments in USAR-like environments verify the robustness of the proposed control architecture.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Search and Rescue is an essential service provided by States and Militaries to search for, locate and rescue survivors of accidents and incidents. Civil Search and Rescue utilizes a system of well-trained professionals or volunteers, an effective Search and Rescue organization, supported by industry and other providers of infrastructure and assets. The service is rendered to save the lives of civilian individuals in imminent danger of losing their lives. Military (Combat) Search and Rescue is provided by militaries to save the lives of military practitioners in a similar predicament. In addition, Search and Rescue is performed over land and over the sea. All forms of Search and Rescue rely on capable, specialized assets for efficiency en affectivity. Assets are specified and chosen on the grounds of various factors, amongst others operating environment, operational profile, performance and special abilities. This thesis has determined the need for a Search and Rescue asset, capable of performing effective and efficient Search and Rescue over the entire national maritime Search and Rescue Region, up to the Region extremities. An analysis was performed to prove this deficit, and quantify the key performance and special equipment requirements for such an asset. An analysis was also performed which proves that an Unmanned Aircraft System should be an ideal choice to meet this need. Finally, an Unmanned Aircraft System concept was specified that could potentially meet this need. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Soek en Redding is ‘n essentiële diens wat deur State en militêre organisasies gebied word om oorlewendes van ongelukke en insidente te soek, op te spoor en na veiligheid te bring. Siviele Soek en Redding maak gebruik van ‘n stelsel van goedopgeleide professionele persone, sowel as vrywilligers, asook ‘n effektiewe Soek en Reddingsorganisasie, ondersteun deur die industrie en ander voorsieners van infrastruktuur en toerusting. Derglike dienste word daargestel om die lewens van siviele persone, wie se lewens in gevaar is, te red. Militêre Soek en Redding word deur militêre organisasies daargetel om die lewens van militêre persone, wie in gevaar is, te red. Soek en Redding word oor land sowel as oor die see uitgevoer. Alle vorms van Soek en Redding maak staat op die beskikbaarheid van gespesialiseerde toerusting met gespesialiseerde gebruiksaanwending, vir maksimale effektiwiteit en doeltreffendheid. Toerusting word gekies op grond van verskeie faktore, onder meer die gebruiksomgewing, operasionele profiele, verlangde prestasie en spesiale vermoëns. Hierdie tesis het die behoefte aan ‘n gespesialiseerde Soek en Redding platform, wat die vermoë het om effektiewe en doeltreffende Soek en Redding uit te voer oor die hele nationale Soek en Redding Gebied, tot en met die ekstreme daarvan, vasgestel. ‘n Analise is uitgevoer om hierdie tekortkoming uit te wys, asook om die sleutel prestasie- en gespesialiseerde toerustingbehoeftes vir so ‘n platform te kwantifiseer. ‘n Verdere analise is uitgevoer om te bewys dat ‘n Onbemande Vliegtuig die beste opsie sou wees vir ‘n platform om aan hierdie behoeftes te voldoen. Ten slotte is ‘n konsep vir ‘n Onbemande Vliegtuig Stelsel voorgetsel wat potensieël hierdie behoefte sou kon vervul.

Summary The aim of this thesis is to describe the history and development of the Mountain service in Czech countries as well as in available archives look for documents giving evidence of its history and development. Another target is to point out the associations connected with the mountain terrain or associated with the origin of the Mountain service. Another goal was to monitor the development of the symbol, membership cards and technology which was or stil is used by the Mountain service. The thesis also contains an overview of commencement of rescue associations in selected European countries where the organized rescue of people in mountain terrain has a similar period of origin and similar circumstances. Those organizations, which mostly helped to create mountain rescue service, were Alpine clubs, tourist clubs, conservationists or gymnastic associations. From the territorial prospective we speak about Austria, Germany, France and Italy. From the time point of view the formation of rescue service dates from the middle of the 19th century. The greatest reason for an increasing amount of people (tourists) coming to the mountain terrain in Europe was mostly the scientific-technical progress in the second half of the 19th century. Due to the construction of railways throughout Europe, development...

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(情報学) / 甲第21209号 / 情博第662号 / 新制||情||114(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院情報学研究科知能情報学専攻 / (主査)教授 河原 達也, 教授 鹿島 久嗣, 教授 田中 利幸, 講師 吉井 和佳 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Informatics / Kyoto University / DFAM

Der stetig wachsende Tourismus in den alpinen Regionen führt zu steigenden Einsatzzahlen der Berg- und Luftrettung in Bayern. Aufgrund der zunehmenden Notfälle werden die Retter*innen der Berg- und Luftrettung vermehrt in schwieriges Gelände gerufen und müssen sich mit unterschiedlichen Wetter- und Geländebedingungen auseinandersetzen. Diese erschwerten Umgebungsbedingungen können einen negativen Einfluss auf den Erfolg einer kardiopulmonalen Reanimation (CPR) haben. Diese prospektive Beobachtungsstudie umfasste 300 Teilnehmer*innen, die als Teil der Berg- oder Luftrettung Kenntnisse in der CPR haben. Die Teilnehmer*innen nahmen ohne Wissen über den Inhalt der Studie an 3 CPR-Trainingseinheiten teil, die sich durch erschwerte Umgebungsbedingungen voneinander unterschieden. Station Riegel bot den Retter*innen eine normale Trainingsumgebung. Station Höhe war durch eine exponierte, felsige Umgebung in 12 Metern Höhe charakterisiert. Station Kälte ist durch felsiges Gelände und Kälte von minus 20° C gekennzeichnet. An diesen 3 Stationen wurden 450 Trainings-sequenzen mit einem CPR-Phantom (AmbuMan Advanced) und Videoaufzeichnungen untersucht. Dazu wurden verschiedene Parameter wie z.B. Thoraxdrucktiefe analysiert, die entscheidend für einen langfristigen Erfolg einer CPR sind. Im Vergleich zur Station Riegel zeigten sich in den Stationen Höhe und Kälte signifikante Unterschiede von CPR-relevanten Parametern. Die eindrücklichsten Unterschiede zeigten sich im Bereich der Station 3 in Bezug auf die Ergonomie der Teilnehmer während der Thoraxdruckmassage, einhergehend mit verminderter Thoraxkompressionstiefe und zu geringen Beatmungsvolumina. Es zeigten sich keine Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen in Bezug auf die Frequenz der Thoraxdruckmassage, dies ist auf die Verwendung eines im AED integrierten Metronoms zurückzuführen. Die vorliegende Studie zeigt, dass erschwerte Umweltfaktoren wie Höhe, Kälte und felsiger Untergrund einen negativen Einfluss auf die Qualität einer CPR haben. Die verminderte Thoraxkompressionstiefe und die unzureichende Ventilation können die neurologische Prognose der wiederbelebten Patienten negativ beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit können Grundlage für eine weitere Optimierung der Trainingssituationen für die Berg- und Luftrettung in Bayern sein und unterstreichen die Bedeutung realitätsnaher Simulations-trainings.:I. Inhaltsverzeichnis II.Abbildungsverzeichnis III Tabellenverzeichnis IV.Abkürzungsverzeichnis 1 Einleitung 13 1.1 Herz-Kreislauf-Stillstand 13 1.1.1 Definition und Epidemiologie 13 1.1.2 Ursachen 14 1.2 Kardiopulmonale Reanimation (CPR) 15 1.2.1 Zielgrößen einer erfolgreichen CPR 17 2 Charakteristik der Berg- und Luftrettung in Bayern 18 2.1 Bergwacht Bayern 18 2.1.1 Aufgaben 19 2.1.2 Einsatzzahlen 19 2.2 Luftrettung in Bayern 20 2.2.1 Aufgaben 20 2.2.2 Einsatzzahlen 21 2.3 Ziel der Studie 21 3 Methodenteil 23 3.1 Aufbau der Studie 23 3.1.1 Studienteilnehmer 23 3.1.2 Organisatorisches 24 3.1.3 Trainingszentrum 24 3.2 Trainingssituationen 25 3.2.1 Station Riegel 25 3.2.2 Station Höhe 27 3.2.3 Station Kälte 28 3.3 Material und Technik 29 3.3.1 Reanimationsphantom 29 3.3.2 Notfallrucksack 31 3.3.3 Defibrillator 32 3.4 Auswertungsparameter Videosequenzen 32 3.4.1 Ergonomie 32 3.4.2 Herz-Lungen-Wiederbelebung unterbrochen 33 3.4.3 Position der Elektroden 33 3.4.4 Absaugung 33 3.4.5 O2-Anschluss 34 3.4.6 Filter 34 3.5 Auswertungsparameter Softwareaufzeichnung 34 3.5.1 Handpositionen 34 3.5.2 Fehlende Entlastung 35 3.5.3 Drucktiefe 36 3.5.4 Frequenz 36 3.5.5 Durchschnittliche Analysezeit 37 3.5.6 Zeit Schock – Kompression 37 3.5.7 Beatmung pro Zyklus 38 3.5.8 Durchschnittliche Zeit für zwei Beatmungen 39 3.5.9 Beatmungsvolumen 39 3.5.10 Durchschnittliche no-flow-time 40 4 Ergebnisdarstellung 42 4.1 Die Stationen Höhe und Kälte haben Einfluss auf die Ergonomie der Teilnehmer 42 4.2 Das Gelände zeigt keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf Unterbrechung der HLW 44 4.3 In der Riegel-Situation werden die Elektroden am häufigsten nicht korrekt positioniert 45 4.4 Es zeigen sich keine signifikanten Unterschieden zwischen den Stationen in Bezug auf die Absaugbereitschaft 47 4.5 In den Stationen Kälte und Höhe wird am häufigsten der O2-Anschluss nicht korrekt verwendet 48 4.6 Es zeigen sich keine Unterschieden zwischen den Stationen in Bezug auf die Verwendung des Filters 50 4.7 An der Station Kälte zeigen sich die häufigsten ungünstigen Handpositionen 51 4.8 Bei der Station Höhe zeigt sich eine fehlende Entlastung am häufigsten 53 4.9 Die Stationen Höhe und Kälte zeigen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Drucktiefe 55 4.10 Die Stationen zeigen keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Frequenz 57 4.11 An der Station Höhe zeigt sich ein signifikanter Einfluss auf die Analysezeit 58 4.12 Stationen Höhe und Kälte zeigen statistische Assoziation auf die Zeit Schock–Kompression 60 4.13 Stationen Höhe und Kälte zeigen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Beatmungen pro Zyklus 62 4.14 Station Kälte zeigt eine deutlich verlängerte Zeit für zwei Beatmungen 63 4.15 Ein zu geringes Beatmungsvolumen ist vor allem an der Station Kälte zu erkennen 65 4.16 Die längste durchschnittliche no-flow-time zeigt sich an der Station Kälte 66 4.17 Überkopf-CPR zeigt signifikanten Einfluss auf Drucktiefe 68 5 Diskussionsteil 70 6 Fazit 76 7 Zusammenfassung 77 V Literaturverzeichnis